Zone President of APAC North, AB InBev Jean Jereissati (third from right), VP Procurement of APAC North, AB InBev Masson Zhang (fourth from right) and VP Legal & Corporate Affairs of APAC North, AB InBev Frank Wang (far left) and other executives are viewing models of the photovoltaic power project. Photo: Courtesy of AB InBev
Jean Jereissati (middle), Masson Zhang (right) and Frank Wang (left) are inspecting the photovoltaic panels on the roof. Photo: Courtesy of AB InBev
The world's leading brewer AB InBev marked World Environment Day on June 5 with the official launch of its world-class smart low-carbon brewery renewable energy project in Putian, Fujian Province. A green strategy was also announced that AB InBev would upgrade to green energy and be committed to converting all the electricity used in production to renewable sources by 2025.
More than 400 guests attended the event, including Jean Jereissati, Zone President of APAC North, AB InBev; Fred Freire, BU President China of APAC North, AB InBev; Frank Wang, VP Legal & Corporate Affairs of APAC North, AB InBev; Chen Zhiqiang, Vice Mayor, Putian Municipal People's Government; Lin Boqiang, dean of China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy, Xiamen University, as well as other AB InBev executives and local government officials. During the kick-off ceremony, Jean Jereissati said, "The successful launch of our renewable energy project at AB InBev world-class smart low-carbon brewery would never have been possible without the support and assistance from Putian Municipal Government. We will continue to explore low-carbon growth models tailored to local conditions by working with authorities and energy solution providers and actively promote such green models."
The AB InBev world-class smart low-carbon brewery is set to become Putian's largest distributed photovoltaic power station as well as the largest of its kind throughout the beer industry. With a total investment of more than 105.056 million yuan ($16 million), the program has a total installed capacity of 15.008 megawatts and covers all applicable 150,000 square meters of the brewery's plant surface with solar power panels. After its scheduled grid connection at the end of June, the program is expected to generate 15 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually starting in 2019, supplying 18 percent of the Putian brewery's power usage. On a yearly basis, the project can help the Putian brewery save 4,800 tons of standard coal and reduce CO2 emission by 13,000 tons, which is equal to planting 710,000 trees.
Giving full affirmation and high evaluation to the program, Vice Mayor of Putian Municipal People's Government Chen Zhiqiang said, "AB InBev China's move to commit to renewable energy and actively answer to the 'Beautiful Putian' initiative is of positive significance for improving Putian's environment. The Putian government has an obligation to help more companies embrace green ideas and develop low-carbon business models so that they can better contribute to building a livable port city, a beautiful Putian and a demonstration zone for the 'Beautiful China' initiative."
Among the guests who witnessed AB InBev's green milestone, there was also Lin Boqiang, dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, an important think-tank for the country's green development, who shared his appreciation for the brewery's positive impact. "Green development is a common agenda for both the government and businesses, and vigorous efforts to develop renewable energy sources are highly critical to establishing a green low-carbon circular development system. The successful launch of AB InBev China's renewable energy program provides a new mentality for foreign companies in China to pursue a green-manufacturing-driven industrial upgrade."
On the same day, other AB InBev breweries across the country responded to the slogan "AB InBev acts towards a beautiful China" by actively engaging in environment-protection public service campaigns. Tens of thousands of AB InBev employees from more than 30 breweries nationwide started with daily tasks to enhance their environmental awareness and contribute to environmental protection. Uniformly dressed, AB InBev volunteers provided different forms of public education like information boards and publicity materials, updating local residents with China's current situation relating to environmental protection and calling for society-wide actions to jointly nurture a positive public atmosphere so that everyone can join the cause and help build an ecological civilization.
